Silage-ejecting device



June 23, 1925.

D. R. SHIRAS S ILAGE EJECTING DEVICE Filed June 7, 1924 gwuewtoz (M Quezon Lil Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES DAVID R. SHIRAS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SILAGE-EJECTING nnv ron.

Application filed June 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID R. SHIRAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Silage Ejecting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to green feed tanks or so-called silos and has for its main objectthe provision of a suitable device in the silo for conveniently ejecting the f dder or silage therefrom in large or small quantities as required. I

The device consists of a series of propeller blades mounted on a revolving shaft opposite the drain opening of the silo. This shaft is adapted to be operated fron'rthe outside in any suitable manner, as by hand or motor power.

One embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The figure shows a side elevation and a partial vertical section of an ordinary silo with the silage ejecting device in position.

The silo may be of any well-known construction and has the general shape of an ordinary upright tank, preferablycylindrical. In accordance with the size of the farm stock it may vary considerably in height and diameter and the ejecting device for the silage is made proportionally large.

The sides 11 and bottom 12 are built air and water-tight and similarly the top covering 13 is fitted to exclude air and water. Near the bottom 12 in the side 11 the silo has a drain or supply opening 14 through which the silage taken out when required. Normally this openingis closed by a door 1;; provided with suitable packing 16 in order to make air-tight closure.

The silage ejecting device consists of a shaft 17 revolubly mounted in bearings 18 and 19 on the bottom 12 and in the wall 11, respectively. The axis of the shaft, if extended, passes through the center of the opening i l and is preferably positioned in a horizontal plane. The bearing 19 has a stulilng box 20 to exclude air from the silage. The shaft extends to the outside of the silo beyond the bearing 19 and carries a gear wheel 21 meshing with a pinion 99 The 1924. Serial No. 718,570.

latter is mounted on a spindle 9.3 also running in a packed bearing 24c carried in the wall 11. 'lhrough a pulley 25 or in any other suitable manner the spindle is conected with a source of power, such as a engine or an electric motor. This arrangementis suitable for silos of great capacity but for smaller ones an ordinary crank handle operated by hand power may be used.

On the shaft 17 are shown two propellers 26 and 27, the former of which is carried at the free end of the shaft and the latter, 27, carried further back thereon. Each propeller has a plurality of blades and the diameter of the propellers suited to the opening 1%. It is evident that for large silos series of more than two propellers may be furnished on each shaft 17 and that several shafts 17 may be installed which in that case should radiate from the opeing 14-.

l Jhen silage is to be removed from the silo, a receptacle 28 is placed under the opening 14. Simultaneously with throwing open the door 15, the shaft 17 and propellers 26 and 27 set in motion by starting the motor actuating the gears and 22. The silage packed on all sides of t to propellers and will be pushed in the direction of the opening 1 and ejected tl'ierethrough and collected in the receptacle. As soon as one receptacle has been filled, it is taken away and replaced by another and the operation continued until sui'iicient silage has been re moved when the door is closed tight and the propellers stopped.

Having thus described the invention, claim:

The combination with an air-tight silo having an opening in its side at its bottom and a door normally closing said opening air-tight, of a shaft arranged in substantially axial alinement with the opening in- .the side oft-he silo, an air-tight bearing for said shaft in the wall of the silo, propeller blades secured on said shaft within the silo, and means external to the silo for rotating said shaft.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signa ture.

DAVID R. SHIRAS. 

